Film Distribution Market Report 2026

The film distribution market size has grown steadily in recent years. It will grow from $99.69 billion in 2025 to $103.3 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.6%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to growth of theatrical exhibition networks, expansion of physical home video formats, dominance of major studio distribution systems, rise of television syndication, globalization of film markets.

The film distribution market size is expected to see steady growth in the next few years. It will grow to $117.71 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.3%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to growth of streaming platforms, increasing cross-border content demand, data-driven release planning, rise of independent film production, flexible windowing strategies. Major trends in the forecast period include expansion of direct-to-digital film releases, growth of global day-and-date release strategies, increasing role of film festivals as distribution gateways, rising demand for localized and regional content distribution, monetization through hybrid distribution models.

The growth of streaming platforms is expected to drive the expansion of the film distribution market in the coming years. Streaming platforms are online services that deliver audio or video content to users in real-time over the internet, eliminating the need for downloads. The surge in streaming platforms is fueled by the increasing demand for on-demand content, allowing users to access their favorite movies, shows, or music anytime and from any location, free from the constraints of traditional broadcast schedules. The growth of streaming platforms facilitates film distribution by offering global reach, enabling filmmakers to share their films with diverse international audiences without relying on traditional cinemas or physical media. For example, in April 2024, USwitch Ltd., a UK-based price comparison company, reported that Amazon Prime Video (an on-demand video streaming platform) represented 42.2% of all new streaming subscribers in 2023, marking a 1.7% rise compared to 2022. Consequently, the expansion of streaming platforms is set to enhance the growth of the film distribution market.

Key players in the film distribution market are emphasizing strategic expansions to diversify their operations and broaden their reach. Strategic expansion involves planned business growth into new markets, products, or regions to enhance competitiveness and ensure long-term profitability. For instance, in November 2023, Gathr, a US-based distribution platform, teamed up with Roco Films, a US documentary distribution agency, to launch the Roco Voices speakers bureau. This initiative offers live speaking events featuring filmmakers and subject matter experts from Roco Films’ documentary catalog. It simplifies the process of discovering, negotiating, and booking talent, alongside licensing educational and impact-driven screenings. This all-in-one platform provides audiences and organizers with meaningful engagement opportunities surrounding documentary content and empowers experts by providing recognition and compensation for their valuable contributions to storytelling and outreach.

In April 2025, Shout! Factory LLC, a US-based provider of independent film and television distribution along with multi-platform content services, acquired Gravitas Ventures for an undisclosed sum. With this acquisition, Shout! Studios aimed to considerably expand its film distribution library and enhance its global presence in independent movie and documentary distribution by incorporating Gravitas’s extensive catalog of over 3,300 titles into its portfolio. Gravitas Ventures LLC is a US-based provider of film distribution services, focusing on the distribution of independent feature films, documentaries, and television content across digital, theatrical, and video-on-demand platforms.

Major companies operating in the film distribution market are Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc., Paramount Pictures Corporation, Lotte Entertainment Co. Ltd., Lions Gate Films Inc., Universal Pictures, Amazon Studios LLC, Toho Co. Ltd., China Film Group Corporation, Focus Features LLC, Sony Pictures Entertainment Inc., CBS Films Inc., Wanda Media Co. Ltd., De Laurentiis Entertainment Group Inc., Aardman Animations Ltd., Curzon Artificial Eye Ltd., Beijing Enlight Pictures Co. Ltd., Huayi Brothers Media Corporation, Beijing Polybona Film Distribution Co. Ltd., CJ Entertainment Inc.

North America was the largest region in the film distribution market in 2025. Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in the film distribution market report are Asia-Pacific, South East Asia, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa. The countries covered in the film distribution market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Taiwan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.

The film distribution market includes revenues earned by entities by marketing and promotion, sales and licensing, digital distribution, and revenue collection. The market value includes the value of related goods sold by the service provider or included within the service offering. Only goods and services traded between entities or sold to end consumers are included.

The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD unless otherwise specified).

The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.

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